Season of Giving: Art Therapy Edition

The weeks between Thanksgiving and the New Year are known by a lot of names. It’s been called the season of light, the holidays, the most wonderful time of the year. But here at Magee, we like to think of this time as the Season of Giving. Throughout the month of December, we’re going to spotlight programs and successes that are only achievable through your charitable support. We’ll show you just how your support helps us support our patients and community.

We’re going to kick things off by telling you a little more about one of our most unique programs: art therapy. Since the inception of the program more than a decade ago, Magee’s Art Therapy program has served more than 2,000 individuals with disabilities of all levels. Patients who have incurred life-altering injuries require long-term physical and emotional rehabilitation, and art therapy helps them cope with this process and is often regarded as a crucial part of their recovery. Art therapy has also been shown to help people increase self-esteem, resolve conflicts, reduce stress, inspire self-discovery and achieve insight.

But don’t just take it from us. Here’s what some of the participants had to say.

“After injury, everyone finds a safe place—mine was in art,” she said. “I was in a fog. Art therapy and everyone at Magee woke me up again.”- Kay Martin, spinal cord injury – see video below to hear more of Kay’s story!

“It gave me time to relax, take my time and complete what I had started. I could focus on my painting instead of my pain. When I was in art therapy, I felt good.”- Cynthia Garrison, brain injury

“It was nice exercise. Lori [Magee’s art therapist] would have me sit and stand, reach for materials [to work on balance]. We also worked on my fine motor skills, gripping paint brushes, crayons and pens.”- Alison Coleman, spinal cord injury

“Painting is a beautiful thing. It takes your mind different places and let’s you forget about your injury. It’s also a good workout.”- Darryl Hopkins, spinal cord injury

“It made me have more confidence in my self and it opened a creative side of me that I didn’t have time for before.”- Ragna Brown, stroke

You can learn more one patient’s experience with art therapy in the video below. A donation to Magee will help ensure art therapy and programs like it are available to patients like Kay today and for years to come. Click here to make your gift today.